The Wausau Community Warming Center welcomed six people for the first night volunteers opened its doors at 9 p.m. Friday.

When those seeking shelter from Friday’s zero-degree cold blast walked into the center, in the basement of St. Paul’s Community Center downtown, they were greeted with a chili meal, coffee and an oversized chair recliner for rest.

The center can host up to 15 adult men and women every night through March 31 and about 100 local residents have volunteered to monitor the visitors nightly.

Michele Dirks, 47, of the village of Marathon spent her Friday night greeting homeless people who entered the shelter from 8:30 to 10 p.m. She has served community dinners in Wausau and heard about the volunteer opportunity at her church.

“I can’t think of a reason why not to (volunteer),” Dirks said. “I don’t know what to expect, but I hope it changes me. I really hope nobody shows up — that there’s not much need for it.”

But six people did show up for the night, still under the center’s limit. Karen Becker, who works at Catholic Charities and runs a similar warming center in La Crosse, said it will take time for the homeless community to warm up to the center.

“When we started in La Crosse, we only had six people,” Becker said. “The trust takes a little while to build.”

Doors for the Wausau center, which is run by Catholic Charities and located on Fourth Street, close at 10 p.m. nightly and visitors stay there until 7 a.m. After it closes in the spring, the center will reopen Nov. 1 for the winter season.

Diane Borchardt, the coordinator for the center, said Friday that people in Marathon County are interested in staying at the center, which will be the only shelter open to adults who are battling substance abuse or have a criminal record.

“There have been some people that have been in (before the center opened); they’ve come downstairs while we’re working and asked if it’s opened,” Borchardt said.

Borchardt said she’s been “amazed at the generosity” of residents in the area who pledged to help the center get its start. Recliner chairs, a television and food have been donated to Catholic Charities to use for the shelter. Free Wi-Fi Internet access also will be available.

“The pouring in of people who have wanted to help, it’s really neat,” she said.

The center is seeking 100 more volunteers to donate meals or monitor the center nightly.